Key Points
Hello Folks,
Just a reminder that today, Sept. 11, 2026, is Patriot’s Day, marking the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks when we lost almost three thousand fellow citizens. Our prayers are with them and their loved ones.
We had a new moon on the horizon yesterday just a little before midnight. And, I don’t want to become a nuisance to anyone, butremember: fall officially starts (accordin’ to my calendar) on Sept. 22, not even two weeks away! So, if you’ve been waitin’ to go catch shellcrackers, this may be the last chance for you to get out on the water and catch ‘em, because when the water starts coolin’ down, folks’re gonna be catchin’ specks! So, get you a bucket of worms, and go catch ya some panfish!
The bass fishin’ on the Butler Chain of Lakes is doin’ pretty good for this time of year. Folks are catchin’ plenty of bass usin’ wild shiners fished over the hydrilla and peppergrass patches throughout the chain. You can also catch some bass usin’ artificials such as plastic worms and slow sinkin’ Senko type baits. The bass seem to be feedin’ on topwater baits early in the mornin, and then they’re movin’ on to deeper water, anywhere from 8 to 16 feet. Once that ole sun gets up, you may want to be fishin’ the deeper water with a drop shot rig or Carolina-rigged worms. Some good colors of plastic worms have been green pumpkin, watermelon seed with red flake, and native shiner. I’m sure other colors work as well, but those are the ones I like to use when I’m out there fishin’.
The bass fishin’ on the Harris Chain is pickin’ up a little. The Quit Wishing and Go Fishing bunch held a tournament there yesterday, and it took a little over 17 pounds to win. Congrats to Richard White on his win with 17.4 pounds for five bass. Richard also had Big Bass for the day which hit the scales at 6.15 pounds. Other folks’re catchin’ some nice bass in the Harris Chain on plastic worms and shallow-runnin’ crank-baits. You need to be fishin’ out in 3 to 5 feet of water. You can also catch some bass in deeper water on a dropshot rig.
Over near Clermont on Johns Lake, the bass fishin’ is still doin’ pretty good. The Wednesday Night Shootout had 20 boats fishin’ on Wednesday night a week ago. Congrats to Leo Saratt and Erico School with three bass that weighed in at 13.30 pounds. They also had Big Bass of the night that weighed in at 9.30 pounds.
They are still catchin’ limits of shellcrackers on Lake Kissimmee down east of Lake Wales. The early mornin’ bite has been the best time to catch you a limit. Most of the shellcrackers are bein’ caught in the lily pads. You can do a little bird-watchin’ while you’re out there fishin’, and you’ll also probably see lots of other wildlife down there.
Down near Fellsmere on Headwaters Lake, the bass fishin’ is still doin’ good. The water temperature is around 84 degrees. The live shiner bite has been very good at first light. Some good numbers are bein’ reported. If you don’t want to fish with shiners, the topwater bite is really good first thing in the mornin’. A lot of folks are fishin’ a Snagproof Zoo Pop or a Z-man Poppin’ Shadz around the hydrilla and reeds first thing as the sun comes up. The main thing is, ya gotta get out there on the water as early as possible if ya wanna catch good numbers of bass and if you’re hopin’ for a chance to catch a big’un.
Well, that’s it for this week. I hope to see you on the water real soon.
Tip of the week: Early bird gets the worm! Stay safe, save a few, and good luck!